BETHLEHEM – Like shoulder pads, Andy Reid on a daily basis straps on the burdens of his two professions: family man and football coach. Monday, Reid unhooked those shoulder pads.

Reid revealed the cause of death of his eldest son in a team-issued statement, in which the Eagles’ 14-year coach admitted that 29-year-old Garrett Reid succumbed to drug addiction.

“Garrett’s road through life was not always an easy one,” Andy Reid wrote in the statement. “He faced tremendous personal challenges with bravery and spirit. As a family, we stood by him and were inspired as he worked to overcome those challenges.

“Even though he lost the battle that has been ongoing for the last eight years, we will always remember him as a fighter who had a huge, loving heart.”

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Garrett Reid has dealt with drug addiction in the public eye dating to 2007, when he admitted to police that he had used heroin prior to speeding through a red light and creating a car crash in Plymouth Township. After being sentenced to two years in prison, he attempted to smuggle drugs into his jail cell.

A volunteer with the Eagles’ strength and conditioning coaches, Garrett Reid was in camp with the team when he was discovered unresponsive in his Lehigh University dorm room Sunday morning. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Prior to Andy Reid’s written statement, no additional information had been released regarding Garrett Reid’s death investigation, according to an afternoon statement from Lehigh University, Northampton district attorney John Morganelli and Northamption County coroner Zachary Lysek.

“(Andy) was always so close with (Garrett),” said Eagles center Jason Kelce. “He had been holding him under his wing for so long in this organization.”

Hours before the cause of Garrett Reid’s death was released, the Eagles went through their morning walk-through and afternoon practice as close to normal as possible. Time hadn’t simplified things. It hadn’t eased the hurt in their hearts, either, from when they had first heard of Garrett’s passing.

“When you walk off that field, it hits you again,” Michael Vick said. “There’s no escape from it.”

On the surface, Monday’s sessions appeared as productive as usual. For a collective four hours, all seemed right with their football-playing worlds.

The Eagles have not said when Reid will return. At the soonest, he wouldn’t be expected back until after today’s funeral services for his son, which will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Broomall.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said he had received no indication from Andy Reid when the coach would return.

A common refrain among players indicated that Reid, during a brief meeting with players Sunday, suggested he will not be away from the team for long – perhaps returning for Thursday’s preseason opener at Lincoln Financial Field, or for Wednesday morning’s mock game. The Eagles do not practice today.

“Football is what we do,” Kelce said. “A lot of us can try to get over things by getting on the field, doing what we do, getting back to our element. I think the same is true for Andy. Football is what he does.”

Players did not get into specifics about Reid’s message to them in that team meeting. Kelce said he spoke with Reid in private, too.

“Just offered my condolences,” Kelce said. “And he told me, ‘Keep this thing rolling. Keep everybody on track. We can’t use this as a setback right now. If anything, we need to go forward from this.’

“I think that is just Andy,” Kelce continued. “We’ve got guys who lose relatives all the time on the team, and they’re gone for a significant amount of time, and Andy’s talking about being back already. That just goes to show his level of professionalism – his level of manhood, really. There’s no question it’s eating at him inside. To be able to not show it, to be able to hold it down just so the team doesn’t see him like that, that’s impressive.”

Reid’s strength in the moment spoke to tackle Todd Herremans, too.

“I already had mountains of respect for Andy and his family,” Herremans said, “and just for him coming in and addressing the team, feeling like he had to, that just puts more and more up there for me. I can’t even describe how much I respect the man. That’s a strong individual.”

With Reid away from the Eagles, Herremans said he and select veterans have picked up the slack. Receiver Jason Avant, who said he informed the team Sunday of Garrett Reid’s passing, also led an on-field prayer that morning. Herremans said he has been responsible for keeping teammates on track in practice, a responsibility the eight-year veteran welcomes.

A father of one, safety Kurt Coleman said Garrett Reid’s passing made him appreciate the time he has with his daughter. Coleman said Reid’s desire to be in two places at once demonstrated his passion for the game, as well as for his son.

“He wanted us to know his heart is with us, as well,” Coleman said. “He feels like he’s in two different places, because he knows he needs to be with his family right now in this time of need, but he also wants to be with the football family because he loves this. He loves our team and he loves being around us all the time.

“It’s tough for me to imagine that. Having a child, I can understand the type of loss he’s experiencing. To put it into words, God has been giving him strength. That’s the first thing he opened up with.”

Vick echoed Coleman’s sentiment.

“I have three kids of my own. I have a son. I can only imagine (how Reid feels),” Vick said. “It makes you want to strengthen the relationships you have and enjoy each and every day and not take life for granted. But it’s in God’s will and in God’s hands, and when he calls you, it’s time to go.”

The wrap-around tarps on fences around Lehigh’s campus carried the double-meaning message, ‘Back to Football.’ So, on this day, that’s what garnered the Eagles’ focus.